This is a record of my journey as a Muslim. I used to be Catholic and belonged to a missionary organisation. After my conversion, I sat on the board of a Muslim converts' organisation and specialised in da'wah programmes, convert management, interfaith issues and apostasy cases. I am an initiate of a Sufi order. As such, the articles and writings tend to cover these areas.
All the Arabic and graphics could not have been done without the help of my wife, Zafirah.

Friday, 3 September 2010

The Value of Promises

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ
ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Once a dervish
went into a masjid and sat there with
the intention of observing ‘itikaf. He had no provision of food or drink with
him.

The imam of the masjid advised him that as a destitute person, it was better for
him not to observe ‘itikaf; he should
rather do some job to earn his daily bread.
The dervish made no reply. The imam again insisted that he should go
and earn his living, but he remained silent.
After the imam had repeatedly
asked him to do so for the third and the fourth time, the dervish said,
"Beside the masjid, there is a
shop owned by a Jew, who has promised to send me two loaves of bread
everyday."

The imam said, "If he has promised to
provide you food, it is well and good. Then
you may observe ‘itikaf."

The dervish
said in a reprimanding tone, "It would be far better if you did not lead
the prayers; with such a weak faith in tawhid,
how can you dare to lead the prayers? You
have great reliance on the promise made by a non-believer but you put
little trust in the Promise made by Allah (s.w.t.)
to Provide sustenance to all living things."